Fastener for window-blinds.



PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903.

T. A. UPSON.-

PASTENER FOR WINDOW BLINDS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

P/INVENTOR: JM

WITNESSES: 9441 04/3;

By Al/omeys, m fiw Patented August 4, 1903.

' PATENT OFFICE.

THERON A. UPSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FASTENERPFOR WINDO W BLINDS.

SPECIFICATION forming are of Letters Patent No, 735,625, dated August 4., 1903.

Application filed May 6, 1902. fierial No. 106,113. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LTHERON A. UPSON,a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Window-Blinds, of which the followingis a specification.

In my Patent No. 687,796, dated December 3, 1901, and my application for patent filed May 9, 1901, Serial No. 59,487, Patent No. 703,626, dated July 1, 1902, I have described improved fasteners for window-blinds, the fasteners being shown in a form which is specially adapted for attachment to the fixed member of a hinge and acting against the movable member of the hinge, although the invention in its broadest aspect covers fasteners applied to any portion of the windowframe and acting against any portion of the blind.

My present invention provides certain improvements in fasteners adapted specially for direct attachment to the window-frame;

My present invention provides also certain improvements in such fasteners, whether applied directly to the window-frame or otherwise.

Various other improvements are provided, as specified in detail hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of an embodiment of my invention, showing the same first with the blind free andthen with the stop of my fastener bearing against the blind to hold it fastened open.

A valuable feature of the invention is that when the stop is moved into the path of the blind to hold the latter open it may be forced against the blind with sufficient pressure to hold the stop in place by friction.

Another valuable feature is that the stop is adapted to be moved a variable distance outward, so that it may be used for blinds mounted at varying distances from the windowframe without the necessity'of varying the construction or dimensions of the fastener.

Another valuable feature is that means are provided for taking up the looseness of the parts when the stop is in use, so as to prevent rattling.

My improved fastener, while most efficient, is very cheaply made, the parts thereof being ordinary stock material, with no special pieces. It can be easily set atthe proper point on a window-frame, and being adapted .for connection to the face thereof its lateral position is entirely under control. As is well known, the lateral position of the blind relatively to the window-frame varies greatly, depending on the construction of the frame, the blind, and the hinge and on the caprice of the builder, and it is most essential to a successful fastener that it should be capable of being set at almost any position laterally of the frame.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the complete device comprises a stop A, which may be a plate or button, as shown, or which may be merely the end portion of a shaft B, threaded to secure the desired lateral adjustment of the stop and screwing through the free end ofa swingiug arm 0 for allowing the moving of the stop into or out of the path of' the blind D. The arm 0 is supported upon a bracket D, which is preferably, as shown, in the form of a short angle-iron, the arm 0 being pivoted to one flange of the bracket, as by means of a screw E, and the other flange being attached to the window-frame F at any desired point laterally of the window-frame, preferably by means of screws G. The position of the bracket D on the window-frame will depend upon the lateral position of the blind relatively to the window-frame. The blind maybe hinged by any suitable meansfor example, by an ordinary blind-hinge H. At the opposite end of the screw B from the stop A, 1 provide a substantially identical head or button A. By making the stop Aand the head A substantially identical in this way Iprovide for re versibility of the device where necessary. It is understood, however, that the head A, by which the stop is taken hold of, may be of any design adapted to be conveniently held and turned and that the stop A may be of almost any shape, its principal function being merely to bear against the blind, as hereinafter explained.

Fig. 1 shows the device out of use with the blind open, but free to swing closed. To put the device into operation, the operator takes hold of the head A and swings it out until the stop A comes opposite the edge of the blind D. the stop may be swung out to a considerable distancefrom the window-frame,so as to adapt it for blinds set at varying distances outward. In the example shown it is swung outward to an angle of about forty-five degrees. The operator then turns the screw until the stop bears against the blind with sufficient pressure to holdit in place at any desired angle by its friction against the blind, the hinges being strained so as to react against the stop. The mounting of the stop on a screw-threaded shaft B provides the most convenient means for obtaining this pressure, but various other constructions may be provided which will permit the same operation. A particular advantage of my improved fastener is that it provides means for taking up the looseness and tension of the parts. There is only one loose point in the device, and that is at the screw E. The tension of the parts is slight, the arm 0 being preferably very thick and stiff and the outwardly-projecting flange of the bracket D being also quite stifi; but where a stop acts on the inner edge of the blind a very slight movement between the parts of the fastener would permit a considerable movement at the outer edge of the blind. Consequently the function of my device in taking up all loosenoss in the fastener and flexibility in the hinges is a very valuable one, resulting in holding the outer edge of the blind rigidly back againstthe wallofthe house. By the use of a long swinging arm C a considerable radius of action is afforded without having to make the parts of the fastener adjustable relatively to each other in an outward or inward direction. The operation is extremely simple and requires substantially but one action,the swinging of the stop outand the turningof the head A being accomplished without changing the hand of the operator from one point to another. The setting of the device is a matter requiring no special skill, it being only necessary to hold the bracketD against the window-frame and swing the arm The arm 0 is of such length that outward until the stop is opposite the edge of the window blind and distant laterally therefrom just enough to permit the stop to clear it. This determines the position of the bracket, which is then easily screwed in place. It will be seen, therefore, that my invention provides improvements which possess numerous advantages over devices for similar purposes at present in use.

Though I have described with great particularity of detail a certain embodiment of the invention, yet it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction described. Various modifications of the same are possible to those skilled in the art without departure from the invention.

WVhat I claim is- 1. The combination with a stop for windowblinds of a screw-shaft B carrying said stop, an arm C carrying the said screw-shaft at its free end and a bracket D to which said arm is pivoted at its opposite end.

2. The combination with a stop for windowblinds of means for attaching the same to a window-frame and means for moving the same into the path of a blind and against said blind with sufficient pressure to hold it in place by its friction against the blind.

3. The combination with a stop for windowblinds of means for attaching the same to a window-frame and meansformovingandholding the same a variable distance outward to project into the paths of blinds mounted at varying distances from the frame.

4. The combination with a stop for windowblinds of means for attaching the same to a Window-frame, means for moving the same into the path of a blind to hold the latter open, and means for taking up the looseness of the parts.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THE RON A. UPSON.

\Vitnesses:

DOMINGO A. USINA, THOMAS F. WALLACE. 

